Metal-separator



A. D. FISH.

METAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1916.

1,327,667, v Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L Witnesses: -N| 44") y my W/ZLWZ A. D. FISH.

METAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1916.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. D. FISH.

METAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR-10.1916.

1,327,667, Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

| I I I l l I W/fr: es: as: 0f

nnirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE D. FISH, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

METAL-SEPARATOR.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, AMBROSE FISH, a citizen of the United States,residmg in the city of Portland, county of-Multnomah, and

State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetal-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to metal separators, and more particularly to adevice especially adapted for separating metal,'such as gold, silver,platinum and the like, from sand, gravel and other pulverized ore, andit has among its salient objects to provide a machine especially adaptedfor carrying out a new method or process of extracting or separatingsuch metals as referred to, such method or process comprising the use ofa metallic solution, or liquid, such, for example, as a solution havinga mercury base, with other lighter matter mixed therewith,

. the sand, or pulverized ore being conveyed through the same atdifferent depths and in such a way that the difierent metals will assumea position in the liquid or solution according to their respectivespecific gravities. During the movement of said ore through saidsolution, the solution is being drawn off through a filter in which thedifferent metals are gathered together in one mass, and the solutionreturned to the container, as by means of a pump, thus maintaining a.circulation of the solution. In order to facilitate the carrying out ofthis process, I provide a structure in which the metallic solution canbe heated. I also provide an inclosure over the container in which themetallic solution is placed, including the mechanism for conveying theore therethrough, in order to prevent the escape of gases generated byreason of heating the metallic solution, and which gases condense andreturn to the solution. I also provide a structure by means of which thesand or pulverized ore is carried or conveyed from a hopper in a layerthrough a liquid seal under the edge of the cover over the container forthe metallic solution, andv in order to accomplish this the containerfor the liquid solution is also surrounded by a liquid down into whichthe edges of the cover extend. Thus the liquid solution container andthe mechanism for conveying the sand and pulverized ore through the sameis sealed against communicationwith the atmosphere and at the same timeit-is possible Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed April 10, 1916. Serial No. 90,229. Y

to convey the sand or pulverized ore into the container at one end,through the metal- 110 solution, and then to discharge the sand orpulverized ore free of the metals at the other end of the inclosure.

In order that others may more clearly understand my invention I haveillustrated in the accompanying four sheets of drawings one practicalmachine for carrying out the method, or process, referred to, which Iwill now describe.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine, the cover or inclosure forthe metallic solution and operating mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary side elevation showing a slot in the side toreceive the cover or closure for the metallic solution container;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail view showing one of the smaller rollers withits supporting hangers, showing its bearings and a driving disk orroller therefor;

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7, with the driving disk omitted;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 shows end and side views of supporting hangers for largerollers;

Fig. 11 is a topplan view looking down .into the container for themetallic solution,

and the surrounding structure for containing the sealing liquid, theoutline of the coier being indicated in light broken lines; an

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing adjustable means forregulating the height from which the metallic solution is drawn ofl.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, I will describe themechanism here shown for purposes of illustration. 1 designates ametallic solution container, prefer ably of cast iron and comprising ashallow box-like structure having near its opposite ends twotransversely extending trough-like extensions 22, with drain outlet 3 3,

as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said box having end blocks 4-1, inthe opposite ends thereof, with incline surfaces 5-5, tapering down tothe trough portions 2-2, of the container, as clearly shown in Figs. 2and 3. Upstanding flange, or wall, portions, 6-6, are also :r'or ne1d insaid box-like structure as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 11, thusforming a shallow container portion which is surrounded by the containeror box 1, said inner box, or container having also formed thereinwall-like members 7 and S, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. Thebottom 9 of the inner box, or containenis of considerable thickness, asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and has formed around it and crosswisethrough it, channel-like recesses 10, with outlet openings, as 11-11,through the bottomof said box, as illustrateddn Fig. '11. There is alsoformed through the bottom of said box, bearing openings, as

12 and 13, surrounded by suitable flange,

or collar, portions hereinafter again referred to.

Referring to Fig. 2, 14 designates a filter connected by means of a pipe15, with the inner box, or container, by means of an adjustablemechanism,shown in Fig. 12 comprising a tubular member 16, adapted to beadjusted up and down through the bottom of the container by'means of anoperating stem 16 having a screw connection with the elbow 15, wherebythe metallic solution can be drawn off from any level desired, thetubular member 16, being slid ably mounted in the connecting elbowlfr",and provided with suitable packing 16 Said filter 14 is connected at itsopposite side to a pump 17 with which is also con nected a return pipe18, running to the opposite side of the inner box,or container, as at19, the object of which is that the metallic solution can be drawn fromany level from one side of the box through the filter 1-4, by the pump17, and forced back through the pipe 18, up into the opposite side ofsaid inner box, or container, as will be clear from Fig. 2, thus causinga circulation of the solution. I have also provided gas jets 20-20,underneath the bottom 9, of said inner box for heating the same. Ofcourse any suitable heating medium may be used and these burners aremerely meant to be illustrative. The box, or container, 1 is shownto besupported at its opposite ends by short jack screws 21-21, by means ofwhich its position can be regulated. Mounted along the opposite sidesand above said box, or container, 1, are supporting side membersdesignated 22, 23 and 24 at one side, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1,and and'26 at the opposite sides, .said members being connected togetherat their ends by means of end pieces 27 and 28, saidsupp rt es 'Lbsissearr el e h r opposite ends upon end pieces 29 and 30,

upon jack screws 31 and 32, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and Movablysupported upon hangers 33-33 at one'end, is a series of small rollers34-34, there being five of these small rollers movablysu'pp orted uponsaid hangers 33-33, as

edges of members 23 and 24,1said construc tion being shown more clearlyin Fig. 7. Mounted upon ,the. short shafts 37-37, between the supportingmembers 23 and 24, are gears 39-39. Mountedupon the inner ends of saidshafts 37 ,are roller disks 40-40, said disks being ofa proper size torespectively engage the small rollers 34 at one end,

as,clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1,, 3, 6 and 7,

whereby as said shafts 37 are driven by their respective gears 39, saidsmall rollers are revolved by frictional engagement therewith of thedisks 40-40. Said small rollers 34, are adjustably supported at theiropposite ends in the hangers33 and 3,6, as clearly indicated in F igs. 7and 8, in suitable b'earing members, as 34 -34 said bearing members 4-l34hfit the driven end of the rollersbeing, acted upon by small coiledsprings 34 mo ving them yieldingly upwardly, 'whereby;eachQroller .34,is held yieldingly in engagement with the friction disk .40. 'Monntedunder eachsmall roller 34, isa scraper-like member 34, clearly shown inFig. 7, and adapted to keep the roller clean. Mounted upon the upperedges of the supporting members 23 and 24, between the.

bear ng members 38-3 8, and the gears 39-39, are bearing boxes 41-41,for supporting short'shafts 42-42, upon which are mountedintermediategears 43-13, for connecting the gears .3 9-39, as will beclear from Fig. 5, and'thetop side of Fig. l, and also indicated inbroken line 5, Fig. 3. '.Mount-- ed onIt-he outer supporting member 22,are

bracket" arms 44-44,. there being foiir of thesebracket arm's shownclear and one of wh ch is'shm'rir in side view in Fig. 5. Swinginglysupported from the inner ends of said arms 44, are hangers 45, to thelower end of wh ch are mounted the correspendingv ends of large rollers46-46, as

clearly indicated in Figs. 1' and 5, said largo rollers, 46, beingsupported at their opposite ends upon short vshafts 47-47, extendingthrough: suitable openings in the supporting .member .25, and J attachedto the lower end t dat their pper ends Fin. 1

members 25 and 26. Short shafts 47 are provided with gears 47, whichmesh with shown clearly in Fig. 6, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, saiddriving shaft being provided at its lower end with abeveled gear 58,which meshes with a beveled gear 59, upon a driving shaft 60, providedon its outer end with a driving pulley 61, and on its opposite end witha friction roller 62, adapted to be driven by a friction disk 63, whichfriction disk is mounted upon the lower end of a vertical shaft 64,mounted in the opposite side of the machine, as seen in Fig. 1,

and indicated in dotted lines in Fig 3, said shaft being provided on itsupper end with a worm gear 65, and driving a gear 66,

mounted upon one of the short shafts 37, which carries one of theintermediate gears 43, at the opposite side of the machine. Thus aspower is applied to the pulley 61,

and its shaft 60, as clearly indicated in Fig. i

6, it drives the train of gears mounted upon the upper edges of thesupporting members 25 and 26, and through said gears drives the largerollers 46, and also by means of the friction drive at 62 and 63, drivesthe train of gears mounted upon the upper edges of the members 23 and24, and through them drives the friction disks 40, which drive the smallrollers 34-34. Thus the large rollers 46, and the small rollers 34, canbe simultaneously driven, and at the same time both sets are swinginglysupported so as to be moved within certain limits by moving theirrespective" hangers for the purpose of regulatin'g their depth in themetallic solution in the box, or container, 1. indicates a hoppercontainer into which the sand and pulverized ore is placed beforetreatment, and from which it is fed downwardly through an opening 66, ina layer upon an incline 67, and discharged into one end of the container1, into the metallic solution around the outer portion of the containerand in the trough-like extensions 22, said ore being discharged over theincline surface 5, of the portion 4, of said container 1, as clearlyindicated in Figs. 2 and 3. A conveyer belt 68, runs over aroller 69,whose shaft is mounted in suitable bearings -70, upon the upperedges ofthe supporting side members 22, 25 and 26, thence down under smallrollers 71 and 72, mounted one above the other in the trough-likeextension 2, of the container 1, and thence up over a roller 73,supported upon a shaft 74, running in bearing brackets, as 75, mountedupon the upper edges of supporting members 22,

and 26, said shaft 74 being also provided with a gear 76, which mesheswith the gear 51, as clearly shownin Fig. 2, from which said belt 68 isdriven.

The sand and pulverized ore from the chute 65,.is carried by the belt68, which is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows, downthrough the metallic solution in the trough-like extension 2, and up onthe other side where it is carried up and over into the inner container,by said belt 68, and which inner container, or box, has the thick bottom9, with the channels 10, cut therethrough, and also the concaveddepressions extending transversely thereof for the large and smallrollers, and designated 9 and 9", respectively, as indicated in Fig. 11,and also shown in the sectional views, Figs. 2 and 3.

in this inner box, or container. within which the large and smallrollers, designated, respectively, 46 and 34 run, said rollers beingdesigned to convey the sand or fine ore through said metallic solutionfrom the receiving end of said inner box, to the opposite end, where itis discharged over the end of the box, picked up by a belt 77, arrangedin a manner similar to the arrangement of the belt 68, at the oppositeend of the machine,

' The principal metallic solution, of course, is,

said belt 77 running over a pulley 78, mounted upon a shaft 79, uponwhich is a gear 80, adapted to mesh with and be driven by the large gear51. Said belt 77, extends down under small rollers 81 and 82, mounted inthe trough-like extension 2, and then up over a. roller 83, mounted upona shaft 84', having its bearings 85, 86 and 87 uponthe upper edges ofthe side members 22, 25 and 26, said belt being driven in the directionindicated by the arrows and being designed to carry the ore out over theend of the box 1, in the manner indicated in dotted lines, the left handend of Fig. 2. r

. An inclosure, or housing, 88, is adapted to be set over the structurein the manner indicated in sectional view, Figs. 2 and 3, the ends ofsaid housing, or inclosure, being adapted to set down through verticalslots, as 89, cut inthe side members 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, whereby thelower edge of said housing 88. is submerged in the metallic solution, aswill be clearly understood from Figs. 2 and 3. Said housing is shown inhorizontal sectional outline in Fig.1, and will be seen to cover all ofthe inner box, or container, surrounded by the wall members 66,and toinclude and cover the roller driving mech anisms. Asa part of saidhousing, a drum,

or cylinder, 90, is mounted thcreabove in open communication therewith,as at .91, with a valve 92, ,for controllingsaid communication.

As a means for moving said small and large rollers. 34 and 4.6,withtheir respective hangers, I have provided operating cross bars 93and 94, provided with handles 93 and 94, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, andalso in FigsQQ and 3. Said bars 93 and 94 have side bars at theiropposite ends, designated, respectively, 95-95 and .96-96, said sidebars being bent near their operating ends so as toloop down underneaththe edge of the housing, or inclosure, 88, and then to passlengthwisethrough the opposite side of the box, :or container, and beattached, respectively, to the hangers upon which the rollers' 34 and'46 are mounted, whereby the movement of either one of said bars 93 or'94, operates to move their respective rollers with their hangers in onedirection or the other, as the case maybe, which movement tends to moveall of said rollers in parallel relationshipwith each other about theirpivotal axes of their respective hangers in a way to regulate the depthwhich the rollers occupy/in the metallicsolution, and in this way tomore effectively control the passing of the sand and ore through themetallic solution within which the metal is gathered from said sand orore.

"The small rollers 34-34, are covered or plated with silver or' copper,while larger rollers are of steel.

'As an example of the solution I prefer to use, I me tin and addmetallic sodium by degrees until solution is reduced to the requireddensity. Mercury is then heated and thetin and sodium solution is addedto the mercury solution in proper proportions according to the ore to betreated, or according to the, specific gravities of the metals containedin the ore.

The use and operation of my invention may he briefly described asfollows:

' The sand and pulverized ore, or other granulated matter containingmetals, is placed in the hopper 65, and runs down through the opening66,, over theincline 67, into the solution, filling the trough-likeextensions 2, and surrounding the outer sides i 3 6 iYallm be i 6*55 othe nne 0 mn eies i a d s der one b ing. or dbwn i i q fihe sq uti n byth e '68, t avelthe direction indicated by the arrows, and upwardly onthe inside of the housing or covering '8,8,'and thence it'is forced upover the mu members 6-6, 'into the inner box, or container. Here it isacted upon by the rollers 34 and 46. The small rollers 34-34,

" a e mad with i ve p r n are r ven i a dire ti n n i at d by the roFig; 2, so as torcarry the scum-like layer of sand or} pulyerized ore upover the, roller and to pass itflon to ths'next larger roller whichisbeing driven in theopposite direction, as indicated bythe arrow,,and1bymeans of which said metal vcontainin matter lis submerged .andcausedtopass own Jnnd'er said large roller, and thenceitis passedto and up overthe next smaller roller, and so on, passing under the large steelrollers and over the small coated rollers, themetal contained \thereinbeing collected in the solution at different heights, according to itsspecific gravity, andthe matter being-forced out over the other end ofthe box, by the rollers and drawn down by the belt 77 ,-and dischargedout over the other end of the shallow box 1. During this operation themetallic solution is being .draw'n'oii through the filter 14, by thepump 17,and,forced@back to the opposite side of the container," beingthus kept in circulation while )the metal is gathered in the filter 14.The metallic solution is kept heated, as by means of gas jets 2020, inorder to more effectively facilitate the gathering of the metal from thematter being carried vtherethrough. The metallic solution, it will beunderstood, is composed of a mercury base with other matter of lighterspecific gravity, said solution, therefore, having dili'erent strata,and the metal being .retained at the level corresponding to its specificgravity, while the sand or ore is moved along over and down through themetallic solution as a scum until it is discharged at the opposite endsof the device. In order to regulate the depth of the rollers in thesolution they are capable of movement itogether, as hereinbeforedescribed, by means of the operating members 93 and 94.

Referring to Fig. 5, I have shown a pipe extension 100, communicatingwith the solution container 1, in the upper end of which is mounted athermometer 101, supported by means of a rod 102, said thermometer beingused to determine the temperature, and, therefore, the density of themetallic solu- 110 tion in the container, and making it possible toregulate the density by meansof the heat.

The rollers 46 and '34, which are kept revolving, operate to keep thetop of the solution free of scum, or the like, by carrying 115 itforwardly and thereby to keep the solution in a condition so that themetal is more readily precipitated therein. The small rollers 34, alsooperate to bring a'layer of the mercury from the bottom of. the solutionup 120 in contact with the sand, ore, or other metalcontaining matterwhich attracts the metallic substances therein, increasing theirspecific gravity and causin precipitation.

It is to be understoo of course, that the 125 machine can be constructedand arranged so as to be: adapted for treating different-ores andmetal-containing matter, and also, that the solution may be varied asmaybe required to best adapt it for the matterto be 130 treated. I donot, therefore, limit the invention to the particular form here shownand described, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claimsforming a part hereof.

I claim:

1. A metal separator, comprising in combination, a container, a metallicsolution in said container, means for feeding metalcontaining matter inpulverized condition into said metallic solution, means for moving saidmetal-containing matter through said metallic solution at varyingdepths, an inverted cover over said container having its lower edgessubmerged in said metallic solution, whereby to seal the same, and meansfor heating said metallic solution, substantially as described.

2. A metal separator, comprising in combination, a container, a metallicsolution in said container, means for feeding metalcontaining matter inpulverized condition into said metallic solution, means for movin saidmetal-containing matter through said metallic solution at varyingdepths, an inverted cover over said container having its lower edgessubmerged in said metallic solution, whereby to seal the same, saidcover having an extension forming a chamber in the top thereof, a valvefor controlling communication between said chamber and the interior ofsaid cover, and means for heating said metallic solution, substantiallyas described.

3. In a device of the character referred to, a shallow box-likecontainer having inner wall members forming an inner container therein,a conveyer structure set down over said inner container and having itsedges submerged in said solution outside of said inner container, ahopper structure adapted to receive and feed pulverized metal-containingmatter to said outer container, a traveling conveyer adapted to carrysaid matter down under the edge of said cover structure and up into saidinner container, means for conveying said matter through said metallicsolution in said inner container at varying depths, and means forcarrying said matter down under the opposite side of said coverstructure and up on the outside thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character referred to, a shallow box-likecontainer having inner wall members forming an inner container therein,a conveyer structure set down over said inner container and having itsedges submerged in said solution outside of said inner container, ahopper structure adapted to receive and feed pulverized metal-containingmatter to said outer container, a traveling conveyer adapted to carrysaid matter down under the edge of said cover structure and up into saidinner container, a series of movably suspended rollers for conveyingsaid matter through said solution at varying depths with means fordriving said rollers, and means for carrying said matter down under theopposite side of said cover structure and up on the outside thereof,substantially as described.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah county, Oregon, this 4th day of April,1916.

AMBROSE D. FISH.

In presence of- I. M. GRIFFIN, J. O. STRENG.

